House panel criticises continuing delays in construction of Eklavya schools

A parliamentary standing committee has criticized the ongoing delays in building and opening Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas. The committee recommended an independent body to oversee the project, stating that current measures have not solved the recurring issues. Of the 723 EMRSs sanctioned, only 428 buildings have been completed as of April 30, with construction ongoing at 249 sites and 51 schools still in the pre-construction stage.

The Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker leading the 31-member committee expressed dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs' response. The committee highlighted that the Ministry's previous attempts to speed up construction have largely been repeated, and yet the same problems persist. They warned that the delays could raise construction costs and burden the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) budget.

The committee urged the Ministry to consider an independent agency to tackle bottlenecks and ensure schools open in their designated buildings within a set time frame. Concerns arose about the functionality of schools, with 377 EMRSs operating from permanent buildings, 111 from other government buildings, and 11 from rented premises, which may lack necessary facilities for modern education.

The number of students benefiting from the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas fell from 16,479 in 2022-23 to 14,281 in 2024-25. The committee urged both central and state governments to promote the scheme to attract more eligible students. The government cited closures or discontinuations of projects due to factors like non-renewal of school recognition certificates, lack of valid SC certificates, non-compliance with scheme guidelines, and the closure of NGOs and voluntary organizations as reasons for the decline in beneficiaries.